As recent headlines suggest, now is a challenging time when it comes to mining and finance. To help with these challenges, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), together with the New York Section of the SME, will host the first annual conference on Current Trends in Mining Finance in New York on April 29-30, 2013 at City University of New York, Graduate Center.

This two-day conference, intended for senior executives and mining industry specialists, will cover a range of important topics and trends through 17 panels with about 50 speakers. The presentations will come from representatives from some of the most influential companies in the mining and financial sectors including Citi, Nomura, Societe Generale, Caterpillar, Newmont Mining Corp., E&Y, KPMG, HSBC, Tocqueville Asset Management, BNP Paribas and Revett Minerals

Kanagy — I think this conference really focuses on three key areas: banking and finance, both traditional and new ideas; accounting and treatment of resource and reserves reporting, something SME has been very involved with, and social, environmental and political risks for investors.

This is a conference that will highlight all of the financial issues that affect this industry and will cover everything you need to know if you have an interest in this space.

It will cover a range of important topics and trends including project evaluation and investment decision-making; drivers of future industry mergers and acquisitions; tax and accounting issues facing the mining industry; risk factors in the current market environment; new sources of funding for mining projects; trends in mineral development agreements and the impact of “soft” issues on mine development and finance.

Who should attend this conference and why?

Kanagy – The conference is intended for senior executives and mining industry specialists. The entire market has become more difficult to predict and more complicated. I think that investors are not getting the return from the sector that they would like, and this conference will help give them ideas of what the future of investing in the mining sector might hold for them.

What is the main reason to attend this conference?

Kanagy — Going forward, I believe people will be cautious in this industry in terms of investing. We will talk about all types of mine financing — royalty payment, forward sales, metal streaming and private equity.

The commodities market has been on a run for a decade. After 10 years, investors might not be getting the return they want. The question now becomes “what it is the right investment now?”

Conference co-chairs, Tim Alch, Vice President and Senior Minerals Business Analyst, Behre Dolbear; and Alan Oshiki, Managing Director, King Worldwide have put together an outstanding program with an impressive collection of presenters and I would like to extend my appreciation to them.

For more information about the conference, including registration forms, an online hotel reservation link, bios and abstracts for confirmed speakers and a preliminary agenda click here.